Human rights of children and minorities in Bulgaria need better protection

Strasbourg,
22/2/2012 – “The conditions of children in institutions and
the protection of the rights of minorities remain issues of concern in
Bulgaria. While the authorities have now adopted strategies and action
plans to address these problems, it is crucial that these are
implemented with strong determination” said today the Council of Europe
Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, publishing his
observations
addressed to the government of Bulgaria.

In spite of some progress, the situation of children living in some
institutions remains seriously substandard. “There have been allegations
of cases in which children with disabilities were subjected to practices
of malnourishment, violence, physical restraint and incapacitating drugs
in the institutions where they lived. Medical assistance and basic needs
were sometimes denied or provided too late”. The plans to phase out the
system of institutional care of children should be pursued as a matter
of priority.

The Commissioner expresses the hope that the new education law currently
being prepared will ensure access to quality education also to those
children with moderate, severe and profound intellectual disabilities
living in “Homes for Mentally Disabled Children”. He stresses also that
the discussion on a draft Child Protection Act is an opportunity to
ensure a rights-based policy for the protection of all children in the
country.

Roma in Bulgaria remain socially excluded and marginalised, with limited
access to adequate housing, education and healthcare. “The new 2012-2020
National Strategy for Roma Integration should be given full
implementation, including by achieving short-term goals, such as the
improvement of housing and health conditions of many Roma living in
settlements without a regular water supply, electricity, gas and
heating”.

The Commissioner is also concerned that many Roma families continue to
live in substandard conditions or are homeless as a result of forced
evictions. “Forced evictions should be avoided” said the Commissioner,
also recalling that “when this is not possible, international standards
require the provision of adequate alternative accommodation, legal
remedies, compensation and protection from homelessness.”

Commissioner Hammarberg further stresses the need to ensure that racist
attacks against members of Roma communities are effectively
investigated. He reiterates its recommendation to establish an
independent police complaints mechanism for the impartial investigation
of alleged police misconduct.

Finally, as regards the outstanding issues relating to the past practice
of forced assimilation of Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin, the
Commissioner welcomes the declaration adopted by the Bulgarian
Parliament on 11 January 2012 condemning the assimilation process
against the Muslim minority. The Commissioner recommends that a just
solution for the victims of this practice be found, including on the
issue of the pension rights of those ethnic Turks who had to leave for
Turkey and whose premiums paid and time spent in Bulgaria are still not
being accounted for.